North Korea’s Kim Jong Un Promises Significant Expansion of Nuclear Arsenal

SEOUL (Reuters) – North Korean leader Kim Jong Un announced that the nation is now implementing a nuclear force construction policy aimed at significantly increasing its nuclear arsenal, as reported by state media on Tuesday.

During a speech commemorating North Korea’s founding anniversary, Kim emphasized the need for the country to enhance its nuclear capabilities and maintain readiness to utilize them appropriately to ensure the state’s security rights. He underscored the necessity of a robust military presence to address "the various threats posed by the United States and its allies."

Kim also identified a "grave threat" to North Korea from what it perceives as a U.S.-led, nuclear-backed military alliance in the region.

In response, South Korea’s deputy defense minister for policy, Cho Chang-rae, along with his U.S. and Japanese counterparts, condemned North Korea’s recent diversification of its nuclear delivery systems, as well as its tests and launches of multiple ballistic missiles.

Meeting in Seoul, the three officials reaffirmed their commitment to strengthen trilateral cooperation to ensure regional peace, which includes deterring North Korea’s nuclear and missile challenges, as stated in a joint announcement from the U.S. State Department.

They also agreed to conduct a second trilateral military exercise, known as Freedom Edge, in the near future.

Furthermore, South Korea is set to hold a defense ministerial meeting with members of the United Nations Command (UNC) on Tuesday, which is led by the commander of U.S. forces stationed in South Korea.

Last month, Germany joined the UNC in South Korea, which assists in monitoring the heavily fortified border with North Korea and has pledged to defend the South in the event of conflict.

North Korea has criticized the UNC, labeling it an "illegal war organization" and has viewed Germany’s entry into the U.S.-led U.N. border monitoring force as a factor that escalates tensions in the region.